Workouts Don’t Have to Feel Punishing
As I've been talking to members about their past experiences with workouts, gyms and fitness in general, it's been heartbreaking to hear how many women used to approach exercise as punishment.
I guess it makes sense. We use sayings like, "No pain, no gain."
I recently saw some quotes on punishment: “The pain of punishment is temporary, but the strength gained lasts forever.” And: “Punishment is the fuel that ignites the fire of determination within us.” (Just ew.)
How about another approach: Learning to shift your motivation for movement from punishment or fixating on certain body parts → to moving because you love and respect your body (as the freaking miracle is it!).
Meet Callie. Callie has been a LONGTIME It's All Yoga friend. She's been doing the Strength + Stretch classes for the past three years (and just bought some heavier weights -- yay!).
Two important notes about Callie. First, she has a huge kitty, Noki, who is usually camera shy but will sometimes say Hi. Second, Callie is 40 and has felt the importance of doing these workouts through her 30s. (You don't have to be over 50 to join!)
Compared to other things you've done, why are these workouts different?
“I was more intense and hard on myself in working out before. S+S provides a good targeted, thoughtful workout, while allowing me to be kinder to my body... and hear that my body really didn’t like those punishing workouts I used to feel I had to do.”
What other workouts have you tried? How did it go?
“I didn’t fit in to other workouts or culture of crossfit at all. They were very hard on my body and I was scared of injury or felt pressure to do something that would result in injury.”
What's a fun way working out has made a difference?
“I recently was hiking through Switzerland! From the long plane ride to hiking up and down Alpine hills, having consistently done your workouts helped my through all that.”
What do you love about working out with It's All Yoga?
“Love that I can do it from home, but still with others.
Love that there is no judgement of having my screen off.
Love the thoughtful workouts that consider middle-age/aging bodies.
These workouts are easy to get started, not dread inducing/exhausting.”
Callie ended by sharing that she, "likes and appreciates" strength training now. Pretty amazing to go from not fitting it and feeling like workouts had to be punishing... to loving it now.
Thanks Callie for sharing your experience and being a calm and peaceful presence at IAY. 💜
Join us!
If you are interested in results like Callie's but don't know where to start with strength training, I made The Mindful Muscle Club just for you.
The Mindful Muscle Club is a 3-month live online cohort for midlife and peri/post menopausal women who don’t love fitness environments but know they need to do strength work.
If you have questions or aren't sure if this is for you, let's hop on a call!
Check out the Club details... we'd love to have you there!
Michelle Marlahan is the founder of It's All Yoga, now a thriving online studio offering 10 live classes weekly and hundreds of recorded sessions ranging from 10-60 minutes. Her approach balances nervous system regulation with strength building specifically for women in their 40s-70s who value the privacy, autonomy and flexibility of virtual yoga practice. She also works privately with women who have pelvic pain, incontinence or prolapse to find balance and healing in the hips, low back and pelvic floor.